Can-washer



(No Model.)

0.11. SOUTHARD. CAN WASHER.

N0.482,763. Patented Sept. 20, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. SOUTHARD, OF PRESTON, NEW YORK.

CAN-WASH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,763, datedSeptember 20, 1892. Application filed August 17, 1891- Serial No. 4102800. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, CHARLES HENRY SOUTH- ARD, of Preston, in the countyof Ohenango and State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedCan-Washer, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the annexed drawings, forming a part thereof, in which Figure 1is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved can-washer, taken online 1 1 in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 isa vertical transverse section taken on theline 2 2 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of thebrush with one of the sections removed.

Similar lettersof reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

The object of my invention is to construct a simple and efficientmachine for cleaning cans of various kinds, but more especiallysmall-topped milk-cans used for shipping milk by railroad.

My invention consists in the combination, with a trough adapted toreceive the can and hold water, of a shaft. and an expansion-brusharranged to be expanded within the can by the pressure of the can on thebrush, all as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The trough A, forming the body of the machine, is preferably furnishedwith a semicylindrical bottom a and is supported upon legs I). The sidesof the trough are prolonged beyond the end thereof and support acrossbar 0, in which and in the end of the trough is jou'rnaled a shaftB.

Between the cross-bare and the end of the trough and upon the shaft Bare placed the pulleys d e, the pulley cZ being loose upon the shaft andthe pulleyebeing fixed thereto. On the shaft B, at the inner side of theend of the trough A, is placed a collar f, which in connection with thepulley e prevents the shaft from moving endwise. On the portion of theshaft within the trough are secured the cubical hubs g g, to which arehinged the arms h h in four series. To the outer ends of the arms 7?. hare hinged bars "Z, which extend rearwardly and are bent inwardly towardthe shaft B for receiving the brushes j, which clean the inner surfaceof the top of the can. To the front ends of the bars iare hinged thebars Zc, which in turn are hinged to a rectangular plate Z, whichconnects the four bars Z0, so that when the plate Zis pressed forwardtoward the shaft B the bars and arms h h are swung outwardly. Thisoutward movement of the arms isopposed by springs n, connected with theouter ends of the arms h and with the hinges at the inner ends of thearms h. The end of the shaft B serves as a stop to limit the inwardmovement of the plate Z. Upon the bars i la and to the plate Z areattached brushes j j. The shaft B receives its motion through the beltm. The trough A being partly filled with water and the shaft B being inmotion, the can C is placed in the trough and pushed forward over thebrush until the bottom of the can is brought into contact with thebrushes j on the bars 7c and plate Z. The forward pressure of the canagainst the said brushes not only brings them into contact with thebottom of the can, but it also expands the brush by swinging the arms hh backward and by changing the angle of the bars 7c. until all thebrushes carried by the expansible framework touch the inner surface ofthe can. The brush being expanded while being rotated cleans everyportion of the can quickly and thoroughly. When the brush is relieved ofthe pressure of the can, the brush automatically contracts, and the canmay be removed and another can operated upon in the manner alreadydescribed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. An expansion-brush formed of the hubs g g, theswinging arms h h, the expansible frame formed of the bars i and plate Zand arranged for expansion by end pressure, the brushes carried by theexpansible frame, and the springs n, arranged to contract the frame,substantially as specified.

2. In a can-washer, the combination of a trough adapted to receive cansand an expansible rotary brush arranged to revolve within the trough andconstructed to be expanded by the pressure of the can and contracted bysprings, substantially as'specified.

CHARLES H. SOUTHARD.

Witnesses:

S. S. STAFFORD, CHAS. W. BROWN.

